Dynamoelectric machine end plate and mounting means

ABSTRACT

A bearing retaining unitary plastic end plate for a dynamoelectric machine is disclosed. The end plate includes a through passage for receipt of the normally provided armature bearing and armature bearing retaining means. In order to accommodate placement of the dynamoelectric machine so that the axis of rotation of the armature may be at or near the vertical, the through passage is provided with a discontinuous ridge for receipt of resilient fingers extending from the bearing retaining means. This ridge is formed by providing a plurality of passages extending part-way through the end plate structure parallel to the axis of the through passage and intersecting the through passage in the vicinity of bearing retaining means. The end plate structure is also formed with a pair of molded, opposed wire retaining clip members for receiving any internal wiring and preventing that wiring from entering the brush/commutator interface. A resilient clip means is provided for mounting the end plate structure on the housing of the dynamoelectric machine while providing central support for the end plate.

United States Patent [191 Apostoleris DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE END PLATEAND MOUNTING MEANS [75] Inventor: Theodore G. Apostoleris, Ann

Arbor, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 306,778

[52] US. Cl. 310/90 [51] Int. Cl. H02k 5/16 [58] Field of Search....310/90, 89, 43, 91, 239, 242

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,529,874 9/1970 Hoddy310/89 3,145,313 8/1964 Tupper 310/90 3,343,016 9/1967 Lewis 310/903,483,409 12/1969 Phillips 310/90 3,714,705 2/1973 Lewis 310/893,525,891 8/1970 Lukawich 310/239 2,819,417 l/1958 Glass 310/90.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 237,094 11/1964 Austria 310/43 451Feb.26, 1974 Primary Examiner-R. Sltudy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-RobertA. Benziger; Keith L. Zerschling [5 7] ABSTRACT A bearing retainingunitary plastic end plate for a dynamoelectric machine is disclosed. Theend plate includes a through passage for receipt of the normallyprovided armature bearing and armature bearing retaining means. In orderto accommodate placement of the dynamoelectric machine so that the axisof rotation of the armature may be at or near the vertical, the throughpassage is provided'with a discontinuous ridge for receipt of resilientfingers extending from the bearing retaining means. This ridge is formedby providing a plurality of passages extending part-way through the endplate structure parallel to the axis of the through passage andintersecting the through passage in the vicinity of bearing retainingmeans. The end plate structure is also formed with a pair of molded,opposed wire retaining clip members for receiving any internal wiringand preventing that wiring from entering the brush/commutator interface.A resilient clip means is provided for mounting the end plate structureon the housing of the dynamoelectric machine while providing centralsupport for the end plate.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE END PLATE ANDMOUNTING MEANS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis related to co-pending commonly assigned patent application Ser. No.223,636, filed on behalf of Arthur G. Macoit and Theodore G. Apostolerisentitled Permanent Magnet Dynamoelectric Machine filed Feb. 4, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention is related to the field of dynamoelectric machines and inparticular to that portion of the above noted field in which the housingstructure of the dynamoelectric machine comprises molded plastic housingstructure. In particular, the present invention is directed to thatportion of the above noted field which is devoted to bearing retainingend plate structures and mounting means.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the art to provide amolded plastic unitary housing for a dynamoelectric machine. Suchhousings are adapted to receive one end of the rotor or armature whilethe other end of the rotor or armature is received in an end platestructure thereafter secured to the housing. The above noted co-pendingapplication illustrates such an arrangement in which the end platestructure was secured by threaded fasteners received within threadedholes provided therefor in the plastic housing structure. The end platethere illustrated comprises perforated plate-like structure including abearing retention means to which was added the normally provided brushcard which includes the means for receiving the electric brushes andmaintaining them in contact with the commutator of the armature. Theparticular structure was originally conceived to be of compositeconstruction using existing components but resulted in an increase inmaterial cost and also resulted in an increase in the cost of assembly.In order to further realize the benefits of the plastic housingstructure, it is desirable to realize the end plate structure of moldedplastic material. 1

The realization of end plate structure in a molde plastic form which isfunctionally identical with the structure illustrated in the above notedco-pending application is relatively easy in that the formation of theend plate with the electrical brush receiving receptacles and oilcatcher in place and having the requisite shapes and relationships ofsizes can be accomplished in a single molding step. Such a plasticstructure results necessarily in the formation of a through passagewayhaving a minimum diameter at the orifice facing the armature, that is,on' the side of the end plate including the brush receptacles, andhaving either a constant or increasing diameter for the length of thepassageway. This results in a requirement for the armature supportingbearing structure to be inserted from the nonarmature side of the endplate which must then be backed up by a bearing retention means. Such anarrangement is relatively common and bearing structure and bearingretention means for such purposes are known. However, the realization ofthe end plate structure in a unitary molded plastic form when combinedwith a mounting arrangement placing the axis of rotation of the armatureat or near the vertical results in the bearing retaining means beingrequired to support, within a smooth plastic bore in the end platestructure, the entire weight of the armature. Such an arrangement isfailure prone. It is, therefore, a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a unitary molded plastic end .plate structureincluding means for receiving, and providing axial support for, abearing retaining means. In order to preserve and realize the fullbenefits of utilizing a molded plastic end plate structure, it is afurther object of the present invention to provide such a retentionmechanism within the end plate which does not require furtheroperational steps to be added to the normal plastic molding process.

' A further problem which results when a dynamoelectric machine with theend plate structure realized in molded plastic form and assembledaccording to the teachings of the above noted co-pending application ismounted with the axis of the armature at or near the vertical resides inthe fact that the full weight of the armature is applied centrally ofthe end plate while the end plate is supported peripherally. While allstructures are deformable to a certain extent, plastics are generallymore deformable than the normal end plate materials and any deflectionobserved in this mode of operation results in a nonoptimum relationshipbetween the armature windings and the field structure. It is, therefore,a further object of the present invention to provide means for mountingthe end plate structure to the housing which means operates centrally ofthe end plate. A further difficulty with relying upon threaded screwpassages within the housing structure resides in the fact that theformation of such passages within a molded plastic housing structure isa relatively difficult and expensive molding technique and complicatesassembly and servicing. It is, therefore, a more specific object of thepresent invention to provide a means for coupling the end platestructure to the main housing which does not rely upon threaded screwfasteners and which facilitates assembly and servicing.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION with its axis of rotation at or nearthe vertical. To further provide support and to ease assembly andservicing, a resilient clip means is provided to couple the end plate tothe housing structure while centrally supporting the end plate. The endplate is further provided with means forming a brush receiving andretaining channel or passageway and with means forming a plurality ofoppositely directed circumferentially spaced L-shaped retainers forreceiving and retaining brush lead wires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a partially explodedperspective view of an end plate structure according to the presentinvention for a'dynamoelectric machine having a unitary housingstructure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 3, ofthe end plate according to the present invention and includes a partialelevational view of an armature received within the end plate.

FIG. 3 illustrates the end plate according to the present invention inan armature side or rear elevational view.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary view of a portion of the end plateaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to theFIGS. wherein like numbers in the various FIGS. designate correspondingstructure, FIG. 1 illustrates a dynamoelectric machine in a partiallyexploded perspective view. Machine 10 includes a housing structure 12centrally located within which is a rotor or armature structure 14. Endplate structure 16 is received by the open end 18 of the housingstructure 12 and secured in place by clip means 20. In order to locatethe end plate 16, it is provided with projecting ears 22 which arereceived within suitably provided slots 24 in the open end 18 of thehousing 12. Bearing retention means 26 are illustrated in positionwithin end plate structure 16 and are provided with a plurality ofresilient fingers 28 to engage the interior surface of the bore withinwhich the bearing retention means is located. End plate 16 is alsoprovided with an axially projecting circular flange or shoulder 30.

Clip means 20 includes resilient, equidistantly spaced extending armportions 32 and 34 with end portions 36 and 38 for receipt withinsuitably provided seating means 40 and 42 of the housing structure 12.The central portion 44 of the clip means 20 is comprised of a collarmember which is sized to surround the extending flange or shoulder ofthe end plate structure 16. Flange 30 and collar 44 cooperate to locatethe clip means 20 centrally of the end plate 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the end plate according to the presentinvention is illustrated in a rear elevational view (FIG. 3) and in asectional view (FIG. 2) with the section taken along the line 2-2 inFIG. 3. End plate 16 is illustrated as a unitary structure formed of amolded plastic material. This structure includes a through passage orbore 46 extending through the central portion of the end plate structure16 and having an axis which is substantially coincident with the axis ofrotation of the dynamoelectric machine 10. To aid in an understanding ofthe relationship of the end plate of the instant invention to adynamoelectric machine, FIG. 2 also shows, in elevation, a portion of anarmature structure 14 of a dynamoelectric machine. End plate structure16 includes a pair of molded brush retaining means 48 each of which iscomprised of a pair of facing L-shaped members arranged to form asubstantially Electrical brushes 52 of known construction are receivedwithin the channels 50. Resilient means are provided to bias the brushes52 into contact with the commutator setion 54 of the armature l4.Bearing means 56 are positioned within the passage 46 to rotatablysupport the shaft 58 of the armature means 14. Bearing retention means26 are operative to retain the bearing rectangular passage or channel50.

means 56 within the bore 46. As can readily be observed in FIG. 2, theend plate 16 can be molded to include an oil catcher, in the form ofcircular lip 60,for bearing means 56 without requiring this structure tobe added as a separate component. However, lip 60 also defines theminimum diameter for passage or bore 46 necessitating insertion ofbearing retaining means 26 from the opposite side. 7

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bearing retention means 26 areprovided with a plurality of radially extending fingers 28 positionedaround the periphery thereof. Due to the fact that unitary plasticstructure of the end plate 16 is of necessity provided with intricatestructure in the form of the brush receiving means 48, oil catcher 60and the wire clip means to be described hereinbelow (with reference toFIG. 4) in the vicinity of the commutator means 54, the plastic mold:ing process requires that the diameter of the passage or bore 46 beconstant or increasing as the axial distance from the commutator 54increases. This results' in the bearing retention means 26 beingprovided with a relatively smooth wall section of the bore which cannotreadily be provided with a surface to facilitate gripping thereof by theresilient spring fingers 28. It will be appreciated that placement ofthe dynamoelectric machine 10 with its axis of rotation in asubstantially vertical direction will result in gravity loading of thebear ing retention means 26.

In order to accomplish the purposes of the instant invention, the endplate structure 16, having a through passageway 46 of increasingdiameter as the axial distance from the commutator increases, isprovided with a plurality of generally axially directed channels orpassageways 62 equidistantly spaced about the axis of the bore 46 andspaced a radial distance therefrom which will provide for theirintersection with the larger diameter section of the passage 46 in thevicinity of the bearing retaining means 26. Passages thus directed canbe readily formed during the molding step in the production of an endplate 16 and when spaced as stated loading of the bearing retainingmeans 26. With particular reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that eachpassage, 62 preferably is of an arcuate section with an arc length atleast equal to and preferably well in excess of the arc length of one ofthe spring fingers 28. Passages 62 could also comprise generallyrectangular sections positioned along chords of a circle having adiameter approximately equal to the diameter of the bearing retainingmeans 26 since the resilient fingers can be provided with sufficientflexing capability to accept a radially directed surface 64 so defined.Depending on the relative axial lengths and placements, the springfingers 28 can also be provided with greater or lesser axial length toengage the radial surface. 64 while properly confining the bearing means56.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, integrally molded L-shaped segmentswhich are circumferentially spaced apart to receive a brush lead wire 70and to retain the lead to prevent it from wandering, migrating orotherwise moving into the brush commutator interface. The lead wire 70may be inserted into the clips by forming an S-bend in the wire,placingthe wire between the clips and straightening the wire so that itpasses under each clip 66 and 68.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the dynamoelectric machine usingthe end plate of the instant invention may be assembled as follows.Bearing structure 56 may be inserted into the passage 46 of the endplate 16 and the bearing retaining means 26 may be inserted immediatelybehind it to a depth that the fingers 28 engage the radially directededges 64 of the channels 62. End plate 16 may then be placed in a flatfixture so that'the axis of the passage 46 is in the vertical and thearmature 14 may be inserted within the passage 46. Brushes 52 may thenbe inserted into the channels 50 of the brush retaining means 48bymerely inserting them through the radially outward opening of thechannel or passage 50 and inserting behind them the requisite biasingmeans and locating structure. Housing 12 may then be placed over thisassemblage and it may be picked up and rotated manually so that clipmeans can be pressed over the end plate structure 16 so that the collar44 surrounds the projecting flange 30 and the end portions of theoppositely directed arms 32 and 34 can engage the slots 40 and 42provided therefor. This process can also be accomplished throughautomated assembly techniques.

lt can be seen that the instant invention readily accomplishes itsstated objectives. End plate structure 16 may be provided as a unitarymolded plastic structure with integral brush retaining means and leadwire retention means. By providing the generally axially extending,radially spaced, and circumferentially equidistantly disposed channels62 to intercept the main passage 46 in the vicinity of the bearingretaining means, a discontinuous radially directed surface is providedfor the spring fingers 28 of the bearing retention means 26 to forceablygrip. Clip means 20 provided in surrounding relationship to an extendingflange or shoulder member 30 in cooperation with the axially extendingears 22 received within slots 24 provided therefor in housing l2 couplesend plate 16 to the housing 12 and further provides for centrallylocated support to receive the weight of the armature 14 in the eventthat the dynamoelectric machine 10 is mounted with the axis of rotationof armature 14 at or near the vertical. Furthermore, the wire retentionmeans 66 and 68 may be conveniently molded as a portion of the end plate16 during its formation process and will operate to receive any brushlead wires and prevent them from inadvertently entering the brushcommutator interface thereby eliminating a further possible source offailure.

What I claim is:

1. vA dynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end plate structurecapable of axially supporting the weight loading of the armatureassembly comprising:

a unitary plastic end plate housing having a first passage extendingtherethrough,

a. plurality of generally axially extending passages substantiallyequidistantly spaced about said first passage and arranged to interceptsaid first passage, said axially extending passagesincluding radial endwall portions intercepting said first passage,

bearing means within said first passage, and

retainer means having a plurality of resilient extending fingerscompressively confining said bearing meanswithin said first passage,said resilient fingers operative to engage said radial end wall portionswhereby the axial loading of said bearing means will be transferred tosaid end wall portions.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said generally axially extendingpassages comprise arcuate channels having arc lengths substantially inexcess of the arc length of one of said retainer means fingers.

3. A dynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end plate structurecapable of axially supporting the weight loading of the armatureassembly comprising:

a unitary plastic end plate housing having a first passage extendingtherethrough and an axially extending flange;

a plurality of generally axially extending passages substantiallyequidistantly spaced about said first passage and arranged to interceptsaid first passage, said axially extending passages including radial endwall portions intercepting said first passage;

bearing means within said first passage;

retainer means having a plurality of resilient extending fingerscompressively confining said bearing means within said first passage,said resilient fingers operative to engage said radial end wall portionswhereby the axial loading of said bearing means will be transferred tosaid end wall portions; and

resilient clip means having a first substantially circular segment and aplurality of resilient, equidistantly spaced, extending arm portionsoperative to confine the end plate within the housing of adynamoelectric machine.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the end plate includes an axiallyextending flange and said resilient clip means circular segment and saidend plate extending flange are cooperative to centrally support andcouple the end plate to a dynamoelectric machine housing.

5. In a unitary plastic-bearing retaining and plate of a dynamoelectricmachine operated with a substantially vertical axis of rotation of thearmature wherein the bearing is retained between a retaining meanshaving a plurality of resilient fingers for gripping the side wall of anaxially extending passage formed through the end plate and a shoulderformed in the passage, the improvement comprising:

means forming a plurality of passages extending from the armature sideof the end plate and spaced from the axis of the axial passage tointersect the axial passage in the vicinity of the retaining means, eachof said plurality of passages terminating in a radially extending endwall portion defining a discontinuous circumferentially extending ridgefor receivingat least a portion of the extending resilient fingers. 6.The end plate of claim 6 wherein the plurality of passages are arrangedto be substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and have arcuatecross sections.

shaped 7. A dynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end plate structurecapable of axially supporting the weight loading of the armatureassembly comprising:

a unitary plastic end plate housing having a first passage extendingtherethrough; a plurality of generally axially extending passagessubstantially equidistantly spaced about said first passage and arrangedto interceptsaidfirst passaid end plate housing including a pair ofopposed L-shaped wire retaining clip members operative to preventmigration of interiorly placed wires into the brush commutatorinterface.

8. In a unitary plastic bearing retainingend plate of V a dynamoelectric machine operated with a substantially vertical axis of rotation ofthe armature wherein the bearing is retained between a retaining meanshav ing a plurality of resilient fingers for-gripping the side wall ofan axially extending passage formed through the end plate and a shoulderformed in the passage, the improvement comprising:

means forming a plurality of passages extending from t the armature sideof the end plate and spaced from the axis of the axial passage tointersect the axial passage in the vicinity of the retaining means, eachof said plurality of passages terminating in a radially extending endwall portion defining a discontinuous circumferentially extending ridgefor receiving at least a portion of the extending resilient fingers, theplurality of passages being arranged to be substantially parallel to theaxis of rotation and having arcuate cross sections, the arc length of anarcuate cross section being larger than, the arc length of one resilientfinger.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,79I,869 DATED February 26, 197R INVENTOR(S) Theodore G. Apostoleris It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, Claim 5, line 1, change "and" to --end-.

Column 6, Claim 6, line 1 after "Claim" change "6" to Signed and Scaledthis eighth Day of mum [SEAL] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CETIFICATE 0FCORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,79 9

DATED February 26, 197

INVENTOR(S) 1 Theodore G. Apostoleris It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6, Claim 5, line 1, change "and" to -end--.

Column 6, Claim 6, line 1 after "Claim" change "6" to Signed and Scaledthis eighth Day of 1102:1976

[SEAL]

1. A dynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end plate structurecapable of axially supporting the weight loading of the armatureassembly comprising: a unitary plastic end plate housing having a firstpassage extending therethrough, a plurality of generally axiallyextending passages substantially equidistantly spaced about said firstpassage and arranged to intercept said first passage, said axiallyextending passages including radial end wall portions intercepting saidfirst passage, bearing means within said first passage, and retainermeans having a plurality of resilient extending fingers compressivelyconfining said bearing means within said first passage, said resilientfingers operative to engage said radial end wall portions whereby theaxial loading of said bearing means will be transferred to said end wallportions.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said generally axiallyextending passages comprise arcuate shaped channels having arc lengthssubstantially in excess of the arc length of one of said retainer meansfingers.
 3. A dynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end platestructure capable of axially supporting the weight loading of thearmature assembly comprising: a unitary plastic end plate housing havinga first passage extending therethrough and an axially extending flange;a plurality of generally axially extending passages substantiallyequidistantly spaced about said first passage and arranged to interceptsaid first passage, said axially extending passages including radial endwall portions intercepting said first passage; bearing means within saidfirst passage; retainer means having a plurality of resilient extendingfingers compresSively confining said bearing means within said firstpassage, said resilient fingers operative to engage said radial end wallportions whereby the axial loading of said bearing means will betransferred to said end wall portions; and resilient clip means having afirst substantially circular segment and a plurality of resilient,equidistantly spaced, extending arm portions operative to confine theend plate within the housing of a dynamoelectric machine.
 4. Thecombination of claim 3 wherein the end plate includes an axiallyextending flange and said resilient clip means circular segment and saidend plate extending flange are cooperative to centrally support andcouple the end plate to a dynamoelectric machine housing.
 5. In aunitary plastic bearing retaining and plate of a dynamoelectric machineoperated with a substantially vertical axis of rotation of the armaturewherein the bearing is retained between a retaining means having aplurality of resilient fingers for gripping the side wall of an axiallyextending passage formed through the end plate and a shoulder formed inthe passage, the improvement comprising: means forming a plurality ofpassages extending from the armature side of the end plate and spacedfrom the axis of the axial passage to intersect the axial passage in thevicinity of the retaining means, each of said plurality of passagesterminating in a radially extending end wall portion defining adiscontinuous circumferentially extending ridge for receiving at least aportion of the extending resilient fingers.
 6. The end plate of claim 6wherein the plurality of passages are arranged to be substantiallyparallel to the axis of rotation and have arcuate cross sections.
 7. Adynamoelectric machine bearing retaining end plate structure capable ofaxially supporting the weight loading of the armature assemblycomprising: a unitary plastic end plate housing having a first passageextending therethrough; a plurality of generally axially extendingpassages substantially equidistantly spaced about said first passage andarranged to intercept said first passage, said axially extendingpassages including radial end wall portions intercepting said firstpassage; bearing means within said first passage; and retainer meanshaving a plurality of resilient extending fingers compressivelyconfining said bearing means within said first passage, said resilientfingers operative to engage said radial end wall portions whereby theaxial loading of said bearing means will be transferred to said end wallportions; said end plate housing including a pair of opposed L-shapedwire retaining clip members operative to prevent migration of interiorlyplaced wires into the brush commutator interface.
 8. In a unitaryplastic bearing retaining end plate of a dynamoelectric machine operatedwith a substantially vertical axis of rotation of the armature whereinthe bearing is retained between a retaining means having a plurality ofresilient fingers for gripping the side wall of an axially extendingpassage formed through the end plate and a shoulder formed in thepassage, the improvement comprising: means forming a plurality ofpassages extending from the armature side of the end plate and spacedfrom the axis of the axial passage to intersect the axial passage in thevicinity of the retaining means, each of said plurality of passagesterminating in a radially extending end wall portion defining adiscontinuous circumferentially extending ridge for receiving at least aportion of the extending resilient fingers, the plurality of passagesbeing arranged to be substantially parallel to the axis of rotation andhaving arcuate cross sections, the arc length of an arcuate crosssection being larger than the arc length of one resilient finger.